Wyatt Langford Passed Another Test, Making Stronger Case For Texas Rangers Roster Spot
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Wyatt Langford continues to rake.
The Texas Rangers top prospect is batting .379 after going 2 for 3 in Monday's 15-5 Cactus League win over the Los Angeles Angles in Tempe, Ariz.
Langford, 22, was used at designated hitter for the first time this spring and didn't miss a beat.
"Personally, I don't think it's very different," Langford told reporters after leaving the game in the seventh inning. "You just sit in the dugout, mess around, and whenever it's your time to come up, you go up and hit."
The Rangers are likely to use Langford at DH if no other positions are available at the start of the season, which begins March 28 at Globe Life Field.
Langford has four homers and 10 RBI with a 1.300 OPS and .828 slugging percentage in 11 spring games.
Does Langford find it difficult to hit without playing the field?
"No, not at all," he said. I felt good, had a good day, and was seeing it good. Not too much to it."
Langford showed off his speed during his run-scoring double to left in the sixth inning. It's his first double this spring.
"Along with the talent, he's got the special makeup that I think is going to make him just a tremendous player and have a tremendous career." — Ranger manager Bruce Bochy
"I've always been pretty fast," said Langford, who played running back in high school through his sophomore year. "It's something I always work on, too."
With the outfield likely filled with Evan Carter in left, Leody Taveras in center, and Adolis Garcia in right, Langford could be forced into the DH role at the start of the season, perhaps filling in when one of the three needs a day off.
"There's no getting around it. The kid ... it has been fun to watch him," Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters before Monday's game. "He's an incredible talent. He'll keep getting his at-bats. He's doing what he needs to do. He's got a great presence about him."
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